Seven more Covid deaths at Northampton Hospital as health chief warns: "We're living on a knife-edge"

NHS England has confirmed seven more coronavirus deaths at Northampton General Hospital as the Government confirmed the county will NOT be elevated into the strictest tier of Covid-19 restrictions.

The seven deaths were reported between Monday and Wednesday this week, taking the toll to more than 100 at the Cliftonville site during the pandemic's second wave and 71 at Northamptonshire's two acute NHS trusts over the last 14 days.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced earlier today (December 17) that Northamptonshire would remain in Tier Two under the Covid Winter Plan — although three more neighbouring areas - Peterborough, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire will be moved into Tier Three from Saturday (December 19).

According to NHS England, all those who died in hospitals had either tested positive for Covid-19 within the previous 28 days or had the virus mentioned on a death certificate.

NGH had previously seen 311 Covid patients die during the pandemic's first wave, most during March and April.

READ THIS: Mass testing roll-out in Northamptonshire's schools after Christmas — but many kids will spend an extra week at homeMore than 1,300 new positive tests have been recorded in Northamptonshire during the last week, according to Public Health England figures while hospital admissions have risen to levels similar to those seen at the height of the pandemic's first wave in April.

Northamptonshire's Director of Public Health, Lucy Wightman, warned: "Our NHS services are already completely overloaded, we're still seeing significant increases in cases and, sadly, deaths.

“As Covid-19 related hospital admissions continue to rise, I’m continuing to ask all residents to protect themselves and the vulnerable older population of 60-plus who tend to be at greater risk of more severe disease.

"Our position across the county remains extremely precarious and we must not be Covid-complacent. Christmas is on its way and I urge you to think very carefully about meeting your loved ones indoors.

“We are living on a knife edge in terms of being placed into Tier Three. We may not have been placed in Tier Three today but we must brace ourselves for this happening after Christmas if cases do not drastically reduce.”